Dell offers $899 desknotes

Desktop processors in notebook clothing

Common Topics

Dell has updated its Inspiron notebook family with two low-end and mid-range models based on desktop processors aimed at users willing to sacrifice mobility for price and power.

The Inspiron 1100 sports a 2GHz Intel Celeron - based on the original Pentium 4 core - while the Inspiron 5100 is powered by a second-generation Pentium 4 with clock speeds ranging from 2.4GHz to 2.8GHz. The P4s have 533MHz front-side bus speeds and 512KB of on-die L2 cache. The Celeron part has a 400MHz FSB and 128KB of cache memory.

The 1100 ships with a base 128MB of memory, CD-ROM drive and 14.1in screen. Graphics are driven by Intel Extreme on the mobo. Prices start at $899. UK pricing has yet to be announced.

The 5100 is based on the same chassis as the 1100, but the line kicks off with 256MB of RAM, 14.1in screen - connected to an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 chip - and 30GB hard drive. Unlike the 1100 is offers a FireWire/1394 port.